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Realms Unknown

Realms Unknown

By: The Bugle
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Fantasy, Sci Fi and speculative fiction, observed through the comedic lens of The Bugle. Become a Bugle subscriber to enjoy this show ad free and help us thrive.


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Expect reviews and supernova level hot takes on literature, gaming, films, TV, board games, and anywhere else you can experience space ships, clones and beautiful elves with massive weapons.


A podcast from The Bugle. Hosted by Alice Fraser and friends. Also available as a video podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bugle, and Alice Fraser
Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Gender // Scholomance // Honor Harrington
    May 27 2025

    Host Alice Fraser and author Patrick Lenton bring you episode 19 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for speculative fiction tropes, news and recommendations!


    This week, we're looking at gender!


    Episode 19

    This week's news features The Wheel of Time getting cancelled, Lilo and Stitch doing surprisingly well at the box office, and a fantasy author caught using AI to write in her own style!


    Hear what Alice and Patrick have been enjoying recently, which tropes they love or hate, then take a deep dive with them into early sci-fi and fantasy, and hear the things that they used to love but now make them feel a bit urrrgh.


    Host books

    Alice Fraser - A Passion for Passion

    Patrick Lenton - In Spite of You


    News

    TV The Wheel of Time

    FILM Lilo and Stitch


    What have you been into?

    Scholomance Trilogy - Naomi Novik

    Blood over Bright Haven - M.L. Wang

    TV Andor


    Trope on a rope

    TV Charmed


    Sub-genre deep dive: gender

    The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon

    The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin

    Ancillary Justice - Ann Leckie

    The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells

    The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan

    TV Rings of Power

    TV Xena: Warrior Princess

    Ethan of Athos - Lois McMaster Bujold

    The Honorverse - David Weber

    TV Deep Space Nine

    Terry Pratchett Discworld series

    Lady’s Knight - Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

    The Bright Sword - Lev Grossman


    The mines of urrrgh

    Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson

    Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley


    Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast

    Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate

    Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown


    🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!

    🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!

    Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Patrick Lenton.

    📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com

    🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • Sinners // Experiments in Form // Guards! Guards!
    May 20 2025

    Host Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan (The Mash Report, The Hauntening) bring you episode 18 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for speculative fiction tropes, news and recommendations!


    This week, we're looking at experiments in form!


    Episode 18

    This week's news features the Highlander remake moving to Amazon, Sinners continuing to tear up the box office, and the sad introduction of AI-narrated audiobooks.


    Hear what Alice and Tom have been enjoying recently, which tropes they love or hate, then take a deep dive with them into early sci-fi and fantasy, and hear the things that they used to love but now make them feel a bit urrrgh.


    Host book

    Alice Fraser - A Passion for Passion


    News

    FILM Highlander remake

    FILM Sinners


    What have you been into?

    FILM Sinners

    The Blacktongue Thief - Christopher Buehlman

    The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells


    Trope on a rope

    Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett


    Sub-genre deep dive: experiments in form

    The Book of Good Times - Hank Green

    The Ship of Theseus - VM Straka

    This Is How You Lose The Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

    SCP-3008

    Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

    Subcutanean - Aaron Reed

    PODCAST - The Last Post

    PODCAST - Revolutions

    WEBCOMIC - xkcd

    WEBCOMIC - Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

    PODCAST Beef and Dairy Network

    PODCAST Welcome to Night Vale


    Convince Me

    The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness

    Redshirts - John Scalzi


    The mines of urrrgh

    FILM Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom

    FILM Wall-E


    Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows

    Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate

    Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store


    🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!

    🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!

    Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.

    📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com

    🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • Early sci-fi and fantasy // Foundation // Ghostbusters
    May 13 2025

    Host Alice Fraser and Eleanor Morton bring you episode 17 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for speculative fiction tropes, news and recommendations!


    This week, we're looking at early sci fi and fantasy!


    Episode 17

    This week's news features the Apple TV+ series Foundation, a surprisingly sexual story about E.T. and how Margaret Attwood receiving an entertainment award may distract from similarities with current issues.


    Hear what Alice and Eleanor have been enjoying recently, which tropes they love or hate, then take a deep dive with them into early sci-fi and fantasy, and hear the things that they used to love but now make them feel a bit urrrgh.


    Host books

    Alice Fraser - A Passion for Passion

    Eleanor Morton - Life Lessons From Historical Women


    News

    TV Foundation

    FILM E.T.


    What have you been into?

    The Lost World - Arthur Conan Doyle

    Dinotopia - James Gurney

    The Daughters’ War - Christopher Buelman

    The Edge Chronicles - Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell


    Sub-genre deep dive: early sci-fi and fantasy

    Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

    The Last Man - Mary Shelley

    FILM Elysium (diversion)

    Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne

    20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - Jules Verne

    From the Earth to the Moon - Jules Verne

    The Weirdstone of Brisingamen - Alan Garner

    Gulliver’s Travels - Jonathan Swift

    GAME: The Landlord’s Game

    The Odyssey - Homer

    One Thousand and One Nights / Arabian Nights

    Le Morte d’Arthur - Sir Thomas Malory

    Lud in the Mist - Hope Mirrlees

    The Broken Sword - Poul Anderson

    Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke


    The mines of urrrgh

    FILM Ghostbusters

    Tintin


    Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows

    Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate

    Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store


    🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!

    🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!

    Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Eleanor Morton.

    📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com

    🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    40 mins
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